Latest time for embarkation

[Muppet]

We are doing a 3 day pre cruise break at disneyworld (the one in orlando) before we go on the sun.

The ship leaves from Ft lauderdale at 5pm (so it says in the brocheure) does this mean we can board all the way up to say 4pm or do they like you on the ship much earlier.

also how long does it take to get from disneyworld to ft lauderdale.

obviously as we only have three days we would like to be able to use some of this day in the park.

thanks for any help.

 

[gsamml]

Disney to Fort Lauderdale is roughly 240 miles and driving near Disney on a Sunday will be very slow (big arrival and departure day). Not knowing how fast you drive ( I drive like a mad man or so I am told) I would allow at least 4 hours(MINIMUM), from the time you pull out of the hotel to the time you park at the pier. Actually I worry about being late all the time so I would actually give myself 5. But that is just me.

Maybe the Florida residents on the board can give you a more precise idea.

 

[Muppet]

Why the hell is america such a big country. I assumed that since they were kind of near to eachother it would be an hour max. You may guess I am british and 5 hours would get me to scotland. Oh well there goes sea world.

Is there an airport in ft lauderdale that we could fly to (our transfers are included in the price but i think i would rather pay more and fly), How much roughly would that be?

 

[bluefish]

Yep America is a BIG country, but there is an airport in Ft. L and it is quite close to the cruise ship terminal.
A four hour drive isn't that long. I often drive 3 1/2 hours, one way, to go diving for the day, then 3 1/2 hours back home. Lots of people spend 2+ hours each day driving to and from work as well. Still, if I lived on an island, well..... I can always dream.
<a href=http://www.cruisemates.com/animated/Sunwht.gif>

 

[gsamml]

We like LOTS AND LOTS of space.

Actually if you think we waste space, take a look at a map of Canada.

 

[Muppet]

the canadians did get a bit of a bum deal what with all the ice they have though.

3 1/2 hours to go diving is madness then again you wouldnt bother here at all as the water is too polluted.
I also used to travel 2and 1/2 hours to go to work but i only worked 50 miles away the majority of the journey was spent sitting parked on the M25.

thinking about you guys are being greedy you should give some space to us, a state or two wouldnt make that much difference.

 

[lamayboy]

enough of the america stuff.........the drive is about 3.5 hours, if you want to get to the pier with enough time to feel "OK" with I would leave orlando at about 11:30. The traffic gets quite thick as you approach the "gold coast" of florida on I-95 and can be very unpredictable, especially if you have not done this drive before, the Turnpike is an alternative, yet you stop a few times to pay tolls, and that can slow you down.......advice to you.....look into Southwest Airlines, cheap airline that I know fly's from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale, and the FLL airport is actually a 4 min cab ride to the pier, they actually have many rental car centers for the airport that are located closer to the pier! The flight is 45 mins....however with the 1+ hour check in you really only save about an hour in time.....IMHO go back to Orlando another time to see anyother parks!

 

[PeabodyNVL]

I checked the Southwest flights. For more accuracy, we'd need the dates. But, one flight Leaves Orlando at 11:15am, arrive FLL at 12:10pm, another flight leaves Orlando at 12:40pm, arriving FLL at 1:35pm. The other leave Orlando at 3:25pm and arrives in FLL at 4:20pm. The second one is cutting it pretty close. No internet prices available on the earlier flights. Price $76. Later flight, $39-44.

You've paid for a whole day on the ship. If you can't spend any time in Orlando that day, get to FLL as soon as possible and board the ship.

Pea

 

[Muppet]

Thanks for all the advice. I think we will have to write that day of in orlando and get to the ship earlier, otherwise the day might be a bit too hectic.

Our transfers are included in our price but im not sure if they plan to drive us or fly us, although i was considering just paying for the flights if they were going to rive us to save sitting in a car for 3.5 hours, however if it is nice country the drive might be nice, so is it all monotonus moterway or is there some nice sights?